Israel unlawfully and extensively used white phosphorous munitions in their recent Gaza offensive, according to a report released March 25 by Human Rights Watch. The report says that while white phosphorous is allowed to be used to obscure ground operations in open areas and against military targets, international law prohibits air-bursting the shells over populated areas due to the risk it poses to civilians.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said March 19 that it will conduct an internal investigation into reports that Israeli soldiers committed war crimes against Palestinian civilians. The announcement follows soldiers' reports of civilian killings and vandalism under liberal rules of engagement during the recent Gaza Strip operation.

From Amnesty International, March 16:

A group of 16 of the world's leading war crimes investigators and judges—backed by Amnesty International—has urged the United Nations to launch a full inquiry into alleged gross violations of the laws of war committed by both sides during the recent conflict in Gaza and southern Israel.

US peace activist Tristan Anderson, of Oakland, Calif., was critically wounded when he was struck in the head by a tear-gas cannister launched by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank village of Ni'lin, west of Ramallah, March 13. Four Palestinians were also shot with rubber-coated bullets in the incident. Anderson remains in life-threatening condition after undergoing surgery overnight at Tel Hashomer Hospital in Tel Aviv.

Israel accelerated its "illegal annexation" of East Jerusalem last year through municipal and security policies that discriminate against Palestinian residents, according to an internal report by European Union diplomats, dated Dec. 15, 2008, which was obtained by Reuters. The 20-page report acknowledged Israel's security needs but said its "actions in and around Jerusalem constitute one of the most acute challenges to Israeli-Palestinian peace-making."

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Court will seek Interpol arrest warrants for more than 100 Israelis on war crimes charges stemming from the conflict in Gaza, prosecutors in Tehran said March 5. Iran announced in December that it would establish a court to try Gaza war crimes suspects in absentia.

From Amnesty International, Feb. 20:

Foreign-supplied weapons used against civilians by Israel and Hamas
Both Israel and Hamas used foreign-supplied weapons to attack civilians according to fresh evidence released by Amnesty International. Munitions from the USA, Israel’s main foreign arms supplier, were used by Israel forces during three-week conflict in Gaza and southern Israel. Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups fired hundreds of rockets that had been smuggled in or made of components from abroad at civilian areas in Israel.

Israel shelled southern Lebanon Feb. 21 after a rocket hit its territory, injuring three people near the town of Maalot in the western Galilee region. "The Israeli army considers this a serious incident and believes it is the responsibility of the Lebanese government and the army to prevent this rocket fire," an Israeli army spokesman said. Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora denounced the violence, which caused panic on both sides of the border, while Hezbollah denied any involvement. "The Israeli shelling is an unacceptable and unjustified violation of Lebanese sovereignty," Siniora said in a statement. But he added: "The rockets launched from Lebanon threaten the country's security and stability and constitute a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701."